pygmy chimpanzee are famous as one of the relatively few species that has sex simply for pleasure . But just because our high priest cousins are n’t reproducing does n’t mean they ’re only have fun — as let out by a raw subject area of bonobo lesbian relationships .
fit in to inquiry by Emory University ’s Dr. Zanna Clay , female bonobos use sex for , among other thing , boosting their societal position , particularly with the “ alpha female ” of the group . Clay and her team follow the bonobos at the Lola Ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . Bonobos , who along with chimps are our closest living relatives , are not male - dominated in the style almost all other primate species are .
They found that the lower - ranking distaff pygmy chimpanzee would make the most noise during sex when the alpha female was nearby , and those female who were invited to have sexual activity by higher - rank females would make a series of calls apparently think to make indisputable the group at large knew about the coupling . This builds on previous enquiry that determined there ’s a specific vocal pattern female bonobo only apply when have sex with other female . Dr. Clay explained the breakthrough to BBC News :
“ Bonobos appear to be extremely aware of the dynamics governing their social worlds . As a scurvy - ranked female , advertizement [ a ] societal - intimate bonding with another dominant group member may serve to beef up their social position , and signal this to the alpha . In bonobo , intimate interactions represent a powerful means to enable female to develop and preserve social relationships , and it is these Bond which lie at the heart of their raised status in bonobo society . ”
In case this all seems a tad misanthropical on the Pan paniscus ’ part , it should be pointed out that Pan paniscus sex is no more just about societal climbing than it is just about reproduction — as Dr. Clay says , sex is also used to “ reduce accent and competition , develop tie , express and test social family relationship and for reconciling conflict and soothe victims in distress . ” you could assure outthe BBCfor more , which features some picture of female Pan paniscus give birth sexual activity and an audio recording of the sounds they make during sexuality . Huh … the BBC grow into a hard-core bonobo sex site so gradually , I did n’t even notice .
paradigm by Jeroen Kransen onFlickr .
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